Why 75 Years?
In August 1947, after long years of bitter struggle, India and Pakistan finally won their freedom as new independent countries. New democracies were born, people found their voice and were finally able to determine their own destiny. This demands celebration, particularly in this year, a 75th anniversary.
However, at the same time, there is a bitter-sweet quality to the remembrance. In his speech of August 1947, Pandit Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister spoke of the ‘labour pains of the birth of freedom’. He was referring to the violent rupture of partition, the bloody fracture of the Indian subcontinent into two independent states: a Hindu-majority India and the Muslim-majority Pakistan. This sparked one of the largest migrations in human history. Millions of Muslims travelled to West and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), whilst millions of Hindus and Sikhs moved in the opposite direction to what they thought was the safety of the religious majority. On the way, over a million people were killed, and countless others suffered injury, loss and humiliation.
Exactly 75 years on from the birth of India and Pakistan, together with Kavita we’ve invited survivors of partition, who made journeys in both directions, to share their stories inside Dishoom. Some of these individuals feature in Kavita’s book, and some are second or third-generation relatives, who explore the nuanced legacy of Partition for them. For many decades, this historical event has gone largely unspoken; the horrors that took place and the shame that followed rendered the events literally unspeakable. Overnight friends became enemies, terrible scenes of murder left countless dead and countless lives completely shattered. All suffered. Though amidst the horror, there were acts of kindness and humanity. These memories, both good and bad, must be passed down; almost all Partition survivors have already died, and now, more than ever, there is real urgency to listen and to honour these memories. By creating space for people to speak so that their stories will be told, their voices heard and their experiences understood, we can help ensure that one of the most momentous tumultuous events of the twentieth century is never forgotten.
